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18 <br /> Attachment 4 <br /> Conditions for Mountains-to-Sea Trail on OWASA Land <br /> Changes to this document that were made since the June 23, 2016 OWASA Board of Directors <br /> meeting are shown in underline for new text and strikethrough for deleted text <br /> Overview <br /> OWASA land and conservation easements on private land in the Cane Creek <br /> watershed were acquired for watershed protection purposes to ensure a safe and <br /> high-quality supply of water in the Cane Creek Reservoir, the primary source of <br /> drinking water for the Carrboro-Chapel Hill community. Any use of OWASA- <br /> owned land must be done in such a way as to not negatively impact OWASA's <br /> core mission of watershed protection and be fully consistent with all applicable <br /> policies and requirements regarding use of OWASA's assets and resources. <br /> Watershed Protection <br /> The conditions included in this section are intended to protect the water quality <br /> in Cane Creek Reservoir. The rationale behind some of these conditions is <br /> provided: <br /> • A protected 50 foot riparian buffer around streams and lakes is common. <br /> Cane Creek Reservoir is located within the Jordan Lake watershed, and <br /> rules to protect Jordan Lake include riparian buffer rules (15A NCAC 02B <br /> .0267). These rules do allow trails within 50 feet of a water body covered <br /> by the rule as long as there is no practicable alternative. <br /> • Rules governing the protection of public water supplies (15A NCAC 18C <br /> .1201) do not allow recreational activities on the water of certain reservoirs <br /> without the permission of the Commission for Public Health or the <br /> Department of Environmental Quality. Under the agreement between <br /> OWASA and the Commission for Public Health, OWASA may allow boating <br /> and fishing (with specific restrictions) on Cane Creek Reservoir, but <br /> swimming and wading are explicitly excluded. <br /> • One of the main causes of impairment of water quality nationally is from <br /> erosion and sedimentation. Allowing only a natural trail for hiking only; <br /> keeping the trail 50 feet from the lake; designing the trail to avoid streams, <br /> wetlands, and steep slopes when practicable; stabilizing slopes; <br /> constructing the trail during dry periods; and following best practices to <br /> 4.12 <br />